Smart (Internet) TVs

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6434 posts

Uber Geek

#503949 9-Aug-2011 16:30

I?m thinking about getting one of these, but wondering about what content they can actually deliver.
In Bond and Bond the other day they had a promotional video going which showed somebody using the TV to browse various movies and premium TV shows to watch ondemand. Does Samsung actually have a library of movies you can browse through to buy/watch, or is this purely an aspirational type of video showing what is possible (or maybe is available to other markets, but not NZ).
What actual content can you watch with these TVs, given copyright and such? YouTube seems obvious tobe ok, but what about others?

For example
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/sony/46-inch-full-hd-3d-led-lcd-tv-sku-22685/
says that you can watch all the following:
BRAVIA Internet Video IP TV (YouTube, Yahoo!7, Wired, Video Detective, UCTV.FM, Style.com, SBS, Podcasts, On Networks, NPR (Audio), Moshcam, Livestrong, Howcast, Golflink, Ford Models, Fifa, Epicurious, eHow, Daily Motion, Concierge, Blip.TV, ABC iView

But what the hell is all that, and is it any good? Yahoo!7, for example, I thought was Australian, so how cani watch the content over here?

Similarly this one
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/samsung/46-inch-full-hd-led-lcd-tv-sku-16278/

says
Internet@TV IP TV (YouTube, USA Today, twitter, The History Channel, Picasa, gettyimages, AccuWeather.com)

Does this mean I can watch the full back catalogue of the history channel?

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grolschie

911 posts

Ultimate Geek

#503959 9-Aug-2011 16:44

I suspect the Yahoo7 and SBS stuff will be missing on NZ models. I doesn't appear on 2010 Blu-Ray player's Bravia Internet Video.

GeoffisPure

456 posts

Ultimate Geek

#504081 9-Aug-2011 21:27

This model here supposedly comes with with the Opera Browser.
This should then work with TVNZ etc, no?

http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/sony/bravia-40-inch-full-hd-lcd-tv-sku-22679/

Edit: hmmm, according to some online resources the opera that comes installed on these might not support flash...

tdgeek

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#504096 9-Aug-2011 22:12

I'm not sure on this one, especially if an HDD and PVR were built in. Not easy to send a large screen TV in if there is an issue. I prefer my WDTV Live for media playback and smart features, which admittedly is only YouTube and a raft of misc other less than useful apps. If it included a browser, and any other cool options via an online update that would be better for me. Keeping those cool features on a stand alone small device. If it required a new, better small device, they are cheap so a no brainer to buy a better one if that was required.

Regs

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Snowflake

#504097 9-Aug-2011 22:12

microsoftt apparently had a bunch of TV and set top box OEMs interested in using the windows 7 embedded with MCE - basically a cut-down, compontised win7, browser, mediacenter box inside the STB or TV. Not sure wheres that got to.

I had also heard that google tv had a bad launch was was being swept under the rug - at least for now.

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tdgeek

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#504102 9-Aug-2011 22:19

Now I'm thinking.

Whats the smallest, quietest device that will output Windows or another OS to a TV in HD and playback well? And can use a wifi keyboard/Mouse?

Dunnersfella

4063 posts

Uber Geek

#504110 9-Aug-2011 22:34

NonprayingMantis:
What actual content can you watch with these TVs, given copyright and such? YouTube seems obvious tobe ok, but what about others?

For example
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/sony/46-inch-full-hd-3d-led-lcd-tv-sku-22685/
says that you can watch all the following:
BRAVIA Internet Video IP TV (YouTube, Yahoo!7, Wired, Video Detective, UCTV.FM, Style.com, SBS, Podcasts, On Networks, NPR (Audio), Moshcam, Livestrong, Howcast, Golflink, Ford Models, Fifa, Epicurious, eHow, Daily Motion, Concierge, Blip.TV, ABC iView

But what the hell is all that, and is it any good? Yahoo!7, for example, I thought was Australian, so how cani watch the content over here?

Similarly this one
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/samsung/46-inch-full-hd-led-lcd-tv-sku-16278/

says
Internet@TV IP TV (YouTube, USA Today, twitter, The History Channel, Picasa, gettyimages, AccuWeather.com)

Does this mean I can watch the full back catalogue of the history channel?

Sony TVs do offer 21 channels of on-line content... some of which is good (model TV) - some of which is bad (subscription based Wiggles... I kid you not, the WIGGLES!).
My advice, jump on the TV and have a watch, see if there's anything you like there.

The Samsung (one of the 2010 models) has next to nothing to entice you re: interweb TV. For instance History TV is just a 'today in history' app...

Basically, until you can subscribe to VidCasts or the likes of Revision 3, I'd not even consider it.
My $0.10.

Ragnor

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#504111 9-Aug-2011 22:43

tdgeek: Now I'm thinking.

Whats the smallest, quietest device that will output Windows or another OS to a TV in HD and playback well? And can use a wifi keyboard/Mouse?

Hmm..

Apple TV 2 + jailbreak + XBMC + broadcom crystal HD pci-e card (for full HD)
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=XBMC_for_Mac_on_Apple_TV

There is only one pci-e slot in the Apple TV 2 so people swap out the included wireless card for the crystal HD. If you want wireless then get a usb wireless adapter for it. USB receiver for your cordless kb and mouse should work fine depending on the brand and Mac OSX drivers.
http://rufn.it/aTV/

Windows 7 option should be doable too, mini itx case + Windows 7 + media center etc. You have a lot of hardware choices eg: Intel i3 has integrated graphics that does decent hardware acceleration for video. Also nvidia ion, AMD hudson.

Here's an example from a year ago
http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2010/03/11/building-a-mini-itx-htpc-2/

BrassBalls

45 posts

Geek

#504598 10-Aug-2011 19:15

I purchased a Sony : http://www.sony.ie/product/tv-80-32-lcd/kdl-32cx520 from DSE

Connects straight to the LAN (or wireless option) and has a browser. You can connect a Sony Vaio laptop to it (which I don't have) and use it seamlessly (apparently) as the keyboard. I downloaded an android app for the wife's phone and it connects via WiFi to the tv to be used as another remote. I have yet to try the keyboard functionality from the phone to the tv. Should work ok I'm sure.
The standard tv remote doubles up as a keyboard but I certainly don't have the patience to be typing on a remote.

It has built in apps like skype, facebook(of course) and lots of sony streaming apps. I like the new tv but don't have time to play with functionality. Will make time in weeks to come though.

Hope this helps.

Ham

462 posts

Ultimate Geek

#504612 10-Aug-2011 19:52

tdgeek: Now I'm thinking.

Whats the smallest, quietest device that will output Windows or another OS to a TV in HD and playback well? And can use a wifi keyboard/Mouse?

An old laptop with a broken screen and HDMI out would be perfect

Ragnor

8085 posts

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#504642 10-Aug-2011 20:40

BrassBalls: I purchased a Sony : http://www.sony.ie/product/tv-80-32-lcd/kdl-32cx520 from DSE

The EX500 series has much better panel and picture quality, they sacrificed higher end quality to put all that stuff in at around the same price or lower.

If you are happy with that trade off all good, but not to my taste.

JimmyH

2820 posts

Uber Geek

#504644 10-Aug-2011 20:43

Ragnor:
tdgeek: Now I'm thinking.

Whats the smallest, quietest device that will output Windows or another OS to a TV in HD and playback well? And can use a wifi keyboard/Mouse?

Hmm..

Apple TV 2 + jailbreak + XBMC + broadcom crystal HD pci-e card (for full HD)
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=XBMC_for_Mac_on_Apple_TV

I thought the AppleTV maxed out at 720P - which isn't full HD?

GeoffisPure

456 posts

Ultimate Geek

#504759 11-Aug-2011 01:58

BrassBalls: I purchased a Sony : http://www.sony.ie/product/tv-80-32-lcd/kdl-32cx520 from DSE

... and lots of sony streaming apps.

But beyond YouTube and a couple of other obscure or country-specific (Non NZ) apps, you can't really stream much can you? Can't access TVNZ, for example?

lchiu7

6182 posts

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#504877 11-Aug-2011 10:48

Out of interest how many of these smart TV's have the ability to pass the audio portion of the signal they are receiving out to an external amplifier as a digital stream?

It is well enough to be able to play Internet TV streams on the smart TV but if those streams have 5.1 audio in them, aren't you going to lose them if the TV can't pass that through to the AVR?

That's why I think a media player is a better choice Let the TV be a display device and use a media player, whether ATV, PS3, Popcorn Hour etc actually capture the streams and send them to the TV.

I have been using my kids PS3 lately for a media player and it passes the 5.1 audio from Freeview (using PlayTV) as well as Hulu, Netflix and Vudu (which is DD+) just fine to my AVR and the video to the TV.

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vinnieg

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#504884 11-Aug-2011 11:05

lchiu7: Out of interest how many of these smart TV's have the ability to pass the audio portion of the signal they are receiving out to an external amplifier as a digital stream?

The latest Samsungs do, i think last years models might also. I only know because I got Netflix running on mine through a US based proxy. Although I use netflix mostly on my PS3, since it's a better media player imo

*edit, whoops, I see you are doing the same with netflix on your PS3 :) it passes through the 5.1 from the Samsung TV to my Onkyo receiver, just fine. pretty much the same as my PS3 does. but the PS3 interface is easier to work!

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

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